Announcement |
Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Expands Team to Further Support Artistic Community
PITTSBURGH, PA—The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is thrilled to introduce the region’s artistic community to two new team members who will help expand the nonprofit’s membership and communication offerings.
André Solomon joins the Arts Council as its new Membership Director, overseeing the development and execution of strategies for growing and retaining the Arts Council’s membership base. Kyrie Bushaw will serve as Communications Coordinator, expanding the nonprofit’s communications efforts with a focus on amplifying the region’s artistic community.
The addition of these two new positions were key recommendations from the findings of the Arts Council’s recent five-year strategic plan, which identified a need for the nonprofit to make a significant investment in the expansion of communications and membership support.
“Through our strategic planning process, we learned that our community craves an Arts Council that is focused on sharing resources, fostering significant relationships, leading advocacy initiatives, and increasing public awareness of the arts,” says Patrick Fisher, CEO of the Arts Council. “André and Kyrie are both valued members of our artistic community, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to our team to help us fulfill this important mission.”
As Membership Director, André Solomon (he/him) returns to the Arts Council, where he previously served from 2019-2022 in roles including Development Intern, Program Coordinator, and Manager of Programs.
André is a flutist and arts administrator dedicated to equity in the arts. He holds degrees from Syracuse University (B.A. Flute) and Carnegie Mellon University (M.A. Arts Management), and has also worked with Creative Generation, Make Music PGH, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and Attack Theatre, advancing community engagement and social justice.
A versatile musician, he serves on the board as clerk of the Merrimack Valley Community Music School and The Dream Unfinished, co-led the Three Rivers Chamber Collective, and won a 2023 National Flute Association Competition. Passionate about representation, André strives to create opportunities for arts workers to thrive, not just survive.
With over a decade in communications, Kyrie Bushaw (she/her) is passionate about growing community connections and crafting arts-focused narratives that promote clarity and care. As co-founder of Meshwork Press, she led marketing and communications, building a network of creative partners while providing free programming to teens to grow their creative skills. Her background in UX design at MAYA Design informs her empathetic, human-centered approach.
Kyrie believes that artists and their work are vital to building a more humane world—one that is radically compassionate, thoughtful, and joyful.
In addition to the two new positions, the Arts Council’s team includes CEO Patrick Fisher, Chief Operating Officer Mia Hooper, Director of Marketing and Communications Lisa Cunningham, Manager of Development John Watt, and Grantmaking Manager Mona Wiley.
“The Arts Council is thrilled to not just expand our staff, but to expand our ability to better serve the artists, arts organizations, and arts workers who depend on us to provide valuable support and resources," says Mia Hooper, COO of the Arts Council.
If you’re interested in receiving updates about the Arts Council’s forthcoming new membership program and exciting new communications initiatives as more information becomes available, sign up for the Arts Council’s email list at pittsburghartscouncil.org/signup.
###